A Twelve-Bar Blues Standard about the Windy City
Sweet Home Chicago isn't exactly about Chicago, Illinois, as you can see from the lyrics below. It reads as more a tribute to a mythical paradise than an ode to a real city. Here, I've included cover versions of the song from blues and guitar legends from Robert Cray and Eric Clapton to Keb' Mo' and The Blues Brothers. You can learn the lyrics and check the guitar tabs, too. Vote for your favorite performance or let me know if I've missed one of the best.
Try These Fantastic Cover Versions
Blues and Guitar Greats Perform a Standard
Despite the ambiguous lyrics, Sweet Home Chicago has become an anthem for the city. It has also inspired generations' worth of blues artists and guitar players to make their own mark on the song. Here, I've gathered covers from some of the best-known names in the blues genre. I started, of course, with the original Robert Johnson recording.
Learn to Sing Sweet Home Chicago
Here Are Robert Johnson's Lyrics
These are the lyrics from the first recording of Sweet Home Chicago, by Robert Johnson. Of course, the lyrics have been altered and reinvented by the hundreds of blues artists who have recorded and performed the song in the seventy years since, but these are a good place to start. If you're wondering, Mr. Johnson pronounced "Iowa" in the last verse "Io-way" so that it rhymed.
Oh, baby don't you want to goOh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago
(Repeat)
Now, one and one is two, two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded, baby
I'm booked, I gotta go
Cryin' baby, honey, don't you want to go
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago
Now two and two is four, four and two is six
You gon' keep on monkeyin' 'round here, friend-boy
You gon' get your business all in a trick
I'm cryin' baby, honey, don't you want to go
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago
Now six and two is eight, eight and two is ten
Friend-boy, she trick you one time
She sure gon' do it again
I'm cryin' hey, hey, baby, don't you want to go
To the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago
I'm goin' to California, from there to Des Moines, Iowa
Somebody will tell me that
You need my help someday
Cryin' hey, hey, baby, don't you want to go
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago
Eighteen Full Versions of Sweet Home Chicago
For Your Listening Pleasure
My Favorite Version
Everyone Has to Have a Favorite!
The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
This was a very difficult choice, since there are so many amazing and very different versions. As a huge Taj Mahal fan, I was tempted to choose his cover, but I had to go with the one that first introduced me to the song--The Blues Brothers from the fabulous 1980 movie. Any rabid blues fan should be familiar with this movie and enjoy the energy and sheer joy of this performance.
Which Version Do You Love Best?
Are you a fan of the original Robert Johnson version of Sweet Home Chicago, Taj Mahal's or Keb' Mo's fabulous covers, Eric Clapton's or Buddy Guy's rippin' solos? Vote for the one you like best or pick "Other" and share your favorite in the guest book below.
It's a Standard, of Course There Are More Videos!
If You Just Can't Get Enough Sweet Home Chicago, Try These, Too!
In case you missed them above, I've included Foghat and Stevie Ray Vaughan in this batch. You'll have to sit (or fast-forward) through two minutes of intro and cheering on the latter, but it's such an iconic version that I couldn't leave it out. I included the Dennis Gruenling version of Sweet Home Chicago and the mistercao cover from Spain do demonstrate that the song isn't solely an American favorite.
The song may not actually be about Chicago, but that hasn't stopped the Chicago Bulls from making their rookies sing a chorus at basketball games. I've added three videos of some of them doing just that.
Sample More Cover Versions
Try and Buy Dozens of Blues and Rock Greats
If you just can't get enough of Sweet Home Chicago, check out some of these amazing (or at least unusual) covers of the song. I was horribly sad not to discover a video or a recording of the version that Muddy Waters recorded with The Rolling Stones to include on this page. Drop me a note if you know where I can find one to add or if I've forgotten your favorite.
Learn to Play Sweet Home Chicago
Play This Blues Standard on Your Guitar
Because of their complexity (and variety), the guitar tabs for the various covers of Sweet Home Chicago are too lengthy to include on this page, but I will share links to several different versions so that you don't have to hunt them down yourself. Once again, if you know of a place to get great guitar tabs for the song, please let me know in the guest book below. Thank you!
What Do You Love about Sweet Home Chicago?
Please share your thoughts about the song, the performers, or the blues in general. I'd love to hear about different covers of the standard and the masters and amateurs who have made it one. Have you seen anyone perform Sweet Home Chicago live?
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- boutiqueshops boutiqueshops Aug 30, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
- Wow! so very cool! awesome!
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- rms rms Aug 24, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
- Nice work!!!!
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Reply
- Stazjia Stazjia Aug 24, 2009 @ 5:26 am
- One of the great classics.
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- kimmanleyort kimmanleyort Aug 23, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
- Another classic song - a great one for a guitar player. There are so many great versions, it's hard to pick a favorite. I do like Stevie Ray Vaughan's, especially since it was his last performance.
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